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RAUK - Archived Forum - High concentration of grass snakes

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High concentration of grass snakes:

Author Message
clare
Member
Joined: 09 Apr 2007
No. of posts: 19


View other posts by clare
Posted: 22 Apr 2007

Hi All

Yesterday at Lakeside nature reserve near Ash in Surrey I counted 13 grass snakes including one individual of approx 4 1/2 feet in a small patch of heather about 20m x 15m bordered on three sides by water.  Is this a large number or is this not unusual in suitable habitat?

Cheers

Clare

 


Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 22 Apr 2007
Hi Clare, I live in Ash

I've not looked around the area you mention, sounds interesting!
Maybe this was mating activity and that's why there were so many in such a small concentrated space
All the best,
Al
O-> O+>
AGILIS
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
No. of posts: 694


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Posted: 23 Apr 2007
hi Clare glad your concentrated site is producing one of mine that always had plenty it seems they  have all dissapeared  been there three times not seen one once you couldnt move few yards without disturbing one and the weather has been ideal .. good job its not the only place I  go keith 
   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
Robert V
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
No. of posts: 717


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Posted: 23 Apr 2007

 

Clare,

sounds like a mating ball.... Always good to watch. did they race around after one another or just stay still?

R


RobV
Vicar
Senior Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2004
No. of posts: 1181


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Posted: 24 Apr 2007
You know, I only live in Farnham but have never actually set foot on the Lakeside Nature Reserve, although I drive past it every day ! 

It sounds like your fairly local to a few of us on here Clare .

Steve Langham - Chairman    
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG).
clare
Member
Joined: 09 Apr 2007
No. of posts: 19


View other posts by clare
Posted: 25 Apr 2007

Most of the grass snakes were in individual spots, basking apart from three which were together.  The only racing around they did was when I tried to photograph them.  I think I need to go a bit earlier in the day before they warm up.  Lakeside is a good spot.  Normally I expect to see three or four grass snakes at a time there which I thought was a good number until Saturday.  There's also sometimes an adder or two in the heather but I haven't seen one at this site so far this year. I will make an effort during the year to keep an eye on the numbers there to see if this was just due to mating.

Clare

 


st rick
Senior Member
Joined: 26 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 141


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Posted: 25 Apr 2007

Clare

Thanks for the tip

And I thought Vicar knew every single grass snake spot in Surrey - if not every single grass snake.  Shame on you, Steve

st rick39197.7446296296
Suzi
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
No. of posts: 860


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Posted: 25 Apr 2007
I like it on this forum when someone says "I think I know that adder"...or it might be a grass snake. With Tony in South Africa knowing some of them as well it is most strange! Methinks our Devon reptiles might not be such celebrities
Suz
Vicar
Senior Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2004
No. of posts: 1181


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Posted: 26 Apr 2007
[QUOTE=st rick]And I thought Vicar knew every single grass snake spot in Surrey - if not every single grass snake.  Shame on you, Steve [/QUOTE]

ROFL...far from it !

Though I did get a tip the other day of a spot closeby with at least one 5ft individual. We'll have to take a look at the site .

Steve Langham - Chairman    
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG).

- High concentration of grass snakes

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